PET STUDIES OF THE DOPAMINE TRANSPORTER IN ADULT ADHD

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This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. ADHD is a common neuropsychiatric disorder that affects 3-7% of school age children and 1-5% of adults. Psychomotor stimulant drugs such as amphetamine are the mainstay of therapy. Preclinical data have suggested that amphetamine may damage dopaminergic neurons in animals. Moreover, there is now evidence in baboons and squirrel monkeys that amphetamine doses equivalent to those used treat ADHD lead to dopamine neurotoxicity. The purpose of this study is to assess the status of brain dopaminergic neurons in adults with ADHD using PET with [11C]WIN3652, a radioligand selective for the dopamine transporter, and [11C]DTBZ, a radioligand selective for the vesicular monoamine transporter. The investigators hypothesize that adults with ADHD treated with amphetamines will have reductions in both dopamine markers compared to adults who have not previously received amphetamines.